*When it comes to building a new home, one of the major considerations you’ll need to make is the type of window treatments to use. In any space in your home, the flooring choice, wall colour, and windows make up the three most important elements that have a major impact on the look and feel of any space.
Most people want a few different things from their window treatments. The three main things people are looking for, apart from aesthetic appeal, include privacy, framing a view, and to allow sunlight or the breeze in. Blinds and curtains can also help insulate your home to keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
The right window coverings will complement the windows and rest of the space seamlessly, adding a subtle layer of texture and warmth. Depending on which room in your home that you’re renovating, specific styles of blinds or curtains will be more suitable. This will also be influenced by what you will be using the room for. For example, people generally opt for black out curtains or blinds in the bedroom to help aid sleep in the early morning when light may filter through the window.
Both blinds and curtains require ongoing care and maintenance and can look stylish, complementing any interior. The key is to select the right style of each to work with the look and interior design of the space in your home.
Here we’ll walk through some of the pros and cons of blinds and curtains, to assist you with your own decision.
BLINDS
Blinds are often a popular choice if you want a window treatment that works seamlessly with your home’s interior. The different styles of blinds to consider include Venetian, pleated, Roman, roller, vertical, wooden, zebra and panel blinds.
Blinds come in a range of luxury textiles and other materials including bamboo and aluminium. You can choose from something that is translucent or completely black out.
Pros:
Blinds are exceptional for light filtration. You can choose from a slatted Venetian style that allows some light in, whilst providing adequate shade, or you can go with a block out blind to ensure sunlight doesn’t interrupt those much-loved siestas or Sunday morning sleep ins. When there is limited space in any room, blinds are a popular choice. They can easily be fitted inside the recess of the window so they don’t take up more valuable space in the room by protruding out. Many people, therefore, install blinds when living in apartments or for smaller bedrooms in the home. Blinds are easy to clean. For example, Venetian blinds can be wiped over with a duster, and other blinds are easy to clean by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Blinds, in general, won’t fade as they are made from durable materials that are fade resistant. Blinds are often popular in homes with children as they are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth if a dirty hand touches them.
Cons:
Blinds as a general rule cost more than curtains. With plastic or aluminium blinds, individual slats can break or bend easily, and once this has happened it can have a big impact on how the entire blind looks. Some blinds are difficult to clean, especially if they need to be removed each time. Water can also damage some types of blinds that are made from wood or aluminium.
Curtains come in a vast array of styles and in a range of fabrics suitable for just about any home interior. You can choose curtains that completely block out light and add warmth to your home in the cooler months. Alternatively, you can decide on a soft, gentle fabric that’s billowy and will move with the breeze when your window is open.
There are several different top headers for curtains and these include eyelets and recessed pelmets.
Pros
Because curtains do not require a pull cord to operate, they are a much safer option for homes with small children and pets. As most curtains will overlap the edge of a window, they don’t need to be made to measure as blinds do. In the cooler months of the year, curtains are the best at keeping the cold out and the warmth in. Curtains offer a beautiful, grand aesthetic with their added movement and flexibility. They can be so easy to clean, as you can often simply remove them and put them in the washing machine. Cons
Pet hair, fluff, and dust, in general, is more likely to collect on curtains so upkeep can be more of a constant, regular task. Curtains are more intrusive in a space so can make a room look smaller. Rarely do curtains fit perfectly over a window, without having some light filter through the sides. If you have a newborn or you yourself can’t sleep with any light coming through your window this might pose a problem. In the kitchen and bathroom, there is a higher chance of staining and mould with curtains due to the moisture in the air. Both blinds and curtains can be a feature in their own right in your home, or they can work seamlessly into a room’s interior. It’s all about the look and style you want to go for and ultimately what you want from your window treatments.*